In this paper we review the species of Ixodes that parasitize wild birds in Panama based on specimens collected from wild birds in Volcán Barú National Park (from November 2014 to May 2015), examinations of museum specimens, and published data. We report presence of Ixodes auritulus parasitizing Turdus plebejus and Odontophorus guttatus, and Ixodes bequaerti in Trogon sp. in Panama for the first time. Additionally, the presence of Ixodes brunneus in this country is discussed. The present data suggest that I. auritulus is established in the western highlands of Panama; however, more efforts are required to confirm the establishment of I. bequaerti. The present paper increases the number of species of this genus in Panama, and adds new data on host-parasite associations.

We document Amblyomma dissimile Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing a bird in Canada. A partially engorged A. dissimile nymph was collected from a Veery, Catharus fuscescens (Stephens) (Passeriformes: Turdidae), in Toronto, Ontario during spring migration. This constitutes the first authentic host record of A. dissimile on a bird in North America and, likewise, on a Veery, plus a new distributional record in Canada. Veeries could theoretically transport A. dissimile from as far south as southeastern Brazil, a distance of over 7,500 km. Experimentally, A. dissimile can transmit Ehrlichia ruminantium (Ricksettiales), which causes heartwater, a severe disease of cattle and other ungulates. Since a fully engorged A. dissimile nymph could likely molt during the summer in northern latitudes, this tick species could potentially parasitize local reptiles, people or ungulates, and cause autochtonous disease. Because A. dissimile is known to harbor rickettsiae in South America and is a laboratory vector of E. ruminantium, the medical and veterinary profession must be vigilant that A. dissimile may pose a health risk.

Egg-laying hens and free and wild birds may introduce pathogenic organisms and ectoparasites to farms linked to commercial poultry farm systems. Two mite species are reported as an economic problem for the poultry industry worldwide: Dermanyssus gallinae (Dermanyssidae) and Megninia ginglymura (Analgidae). The present study aimed to evaluate the bioecology of mite fauna especially D. gallinae and M. ginglymuraassociated with commercial egg-laying hens, and recognize which are infestation periods, favorable environments and efficient predators of these ectoparasites. Megninia ginglymura was the most abundant in feathers and more frequent in the battery cage than in free-range chickens, representing 98% of the species. Both of these husbandry systems showed high infestations at different times. On the other hand, D. gallinae was the most abundant species in traps (98.9%), being found mostly in the winter from free-range chickens, with more than twice the mites when compared with battery cage chickens. This work revealed a possible new tool for biological control of ectoparasites: Cheyletus malaccensis could be considered the main natural enemy with the best potential for controlling these ectoparasites associated with laying hens and should be taken into consideration for future biological control studies, becoming an additional strategy for controlling D. gallinae principally.

The mite Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae) has caused significant damage to coconut palms in the American continent and in the Caribbean area. Emphasis has been given to the establishment of sustainable measures for the control of this pest in this region, especially the use of predaceous mites. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of R. indica and other mites on coconut palms in Manaus (capital of the Amazonas state) and other three neighboring municipalities, at different periods of the year, with emphasis on mites of the family Phytoseiidae. Our hypothesis was that R. indica was not widespread in Manaus region, that it was found at low population levels and in association with a high diversity of predatory mites. Samples were collected at four periods, August/ September 2012 (when rainfall was lower), November/ December 2012 (beginning of the period of intense rainfall), February/ March 2013 (period of intense rainfall) and May/ June 2013 (beginning of the period with lower rainfall). Leaflets, fruits and flowers were sampled from ten plants at each sampling site (one from each municipality) and at each sampling period. Most mites were found on leaflets; 73.9% of these were predominantly phytophagous, 6.1% predominantly predaceous and 20.0% had mainly other feeding habits. Eriophyoidea, tarsonemids and tetranychids were the most abundant groups of predominantly phytophagous mites. Raoiella indica was found at low population levels and in a single site (Iranduba). Phytoseiids were by far the predominant predators (42.5% of the predaceous mites); they were most abundant during intense rainfall. Amblyseius aerialis (Muma), Euseius alatus De Leon and Amblydromalus sp. nov. were the most abundant predators of this family. Cunaxid mites accounted for 27.2% of the predaceous mites. The results of this study suggested that R. indica was not widespread in the region, that it was found at low population levels and that a great diversity of predaceous mites was found on coconut plants in that region. It remains to be seen whether these would be able to maintain the population of that pest under control.

The oribatid mite genus Acrotritia Jacot, 1923 (Euphthiracaridae) is reviewed. Seven species of Acrotritia from Colombia, including a new species, Acrotritia colombianus sp. nov., are identified. A checklist of all known species and a key to known species of the Neotropical Region are provided to facilitate the further study on this group.

Two new species of ceratozetoid oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetoidea) are described from alpine soils of the South Island of New Zealand. Magellozetes crassisetosus sp. nov. (Ceratozetidae) differs from known representatives of the genus (M. antarcticus antarcticus (Michael, 1895), M. antarcticus traegardhiSubías 2010 and M. processus Hammer, 1962) by shorter interlamellar setae and minute tutorial cusps. Pedunculozetes ovatum sp. nov. (Chamobatidae) differs from known representatives of the genus (P. andinusHammer, 1962 and P. minutus Hammer, 1967) by minute interlamellar setae and short bothridial stalks. Updated generic diagnoses for Magellozetes and Pedunculozetes are provided.

Calyptostoma giuliae sp. nov. from Cambodia and C. marantica sp. nov. from Sulawesi, Indonesia are described and illustrated from larvae collected from herbaceous plants. This is the first report of the genus Calyptostoma from Cambodia and Sulawesi, Indonesia. Calyptostoma velutinum is new to the fauna of Sicily and new to the fauna of Serbia. A key to the larval species of Calyptostoma of the world is given.

The new genus Pseudopenthaleus gen. nov. is erected and a new species Pseudopenthaleus tauricus sp. nov. is described from moss in Crimea. Pseudopenthaleus ciliatus (Shiba, 1978) comb. nov. is transferred from Penthaleus.

A faunal survey was carried out in Hungary between 2011 and 2014 in order to monitor the occurrence of tydeoid species in 139 vineyards located in five distinctive wine regions. Twenty four tydeoid species belonging to the families Tydeidae, Iolinidae and Triophtydeidae have been identified, of which Tydeus californicus (Banks) was the most dominant species. The following thirteen species, viz. Tydeus reticoxus Ueckermann, T. spathulatus Oudemans, Brachytydeus falsa (Livshitz), B. latiuscula (Kuznetzov), B. longiuscula (Kuznetzov), B. matura (Livshitz), B. opima (Kuznetzov & Zapletina), B. tuttlei (Baker), Metalorryia palpsetosa (Karg), Nudilorryia paraferula Kaźmierski, N. mariae Kaźmierski, Pseudolorryia striata Momen & Lundqvist, and Neopronematus neglectus (Kuznetzov) were added to Hungarian fauna. Of the identified species, 18 were collected for the first time in vineyards, and this was also the first record of seven species since their original description.

A new flat mite species (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), Aegyptobia kermaniensis sp. nov. from Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae) is described and illustrated. This species belongs to the A. tragardhi group and has been collected from the Kerman province, Iran.

A new mite species, Zetzellia camphorae sp. n. (Acari, Stigmaeidae), is described and illustrated based on adult females. Mites were collected from leaf domatia of camphor trees, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl. (Lauraceae) infested with the eriophyid mite, Aceria sp. (Eriophyidae) in Kyoto, Japan. An identification key to the adult females of the Japanese Stigmaeidae is provided.

Eutarsopolipus obrieni sp. nov. (Acari: Podapolipidae), subelytral parasite of Platynus darlingtoni van Emden (Coleoptera: Carabidae), collected in Jamaica, is described. Relationships in the groups of Eutarsopolipus withadult females without stigmata, the pterostichi, brettae, stammeri and lukoschusi groups, are presented and a key to the 12 species in this cluster of Eutarsopolipus is included.